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Column 2 Includables

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On the eve of another US war for oil, Abby Martin debunks the most repeated myths about Venezuela and uncovers how US sanctions are crimes against humanity with UN investigator and human rights Rapporteur Alfred De Zayas.

Garikai Chengu(2019-02-01). Sanctions of Mass Destruction: America's War on Venezuela.counterpunch.org American economic sanctions have been the worst crime against humanity since World War Two. America's economic sanctions have killed more innocent people than all of the nuclear, biological and chemical weapons ever used in the history of mankind. The fact that for America the issue in Venezuela is oil, not democracy, will surprise only those More

Rob Urie(2019-02-01). Democrats Killed the Green New Deal.counterpunch.org Environmental activists received a reality check when newly empowered Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives pushed aside demands for an environmental economic transition program— a Green New Deal, in favor of reviving a toothless committee to 'study' the problem. A transition program is needed to mitigate the economic dislocations that will result from resolving the multiple environmental crises currently underway. More

Jessica Dos Santos(2019-02-01). Life in Besieged Venezuela.zcomm.orgA young author presents intimate snapshots of ordinary life as it is lived by millions of Venezuelans during a grueling crisis fueled by deadly US sanctions and coup efforts…

Brett Wilkins(2019-02-01). Elliott Abrams: A Human Rights Horror Show in Three Acts.counterpunch.orgLast Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Elliott Abrams would once again be returning to government, this time as President Donald Trump's special envoy to help "fully restore democracy and prosperity" to Venezuela. Abrams, 71, is best known for abetting dictators and genocide in Latin America and for his role in the Iran-Contra scandal during More

STAFF(2019-02-01). The CIA's Masterful Use of Fake News.truthdig.comIn early 1954, writing in the magazine Encounter, F.R. Allemann slammed the ex-prime minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, for alleged abuses. In a " Letter from Teheran" titled "Persia: Land of Unrealities," Allemann referred to Mosaddegh's aborted term as a "pseudo-revolutionary pseudo-dictatorship" and claimed Mosaddegh could only cram laws through Iran's Parliament by summoning thugs to street protests—that is, through demagoguery. | Allemann depicted Mosaddegh's rallies as "terror campaign[s] of the political-religious secret societies" w…

stuart_m(2019-02-01). Iranian workers' protests confront a regime in crisis.greenleft.org.au Protests are continuing throughout Iran by teachers, nurses, labourers, retirees, oil industry workers, bazaar traders and shopkeepers, truck drivers, farmers, the unemployed, students, and other sectors, writes Minna Langeberg. | The current wave of protests continue those from December, which were brutally suppressed by the regime. They signal the deep crisis of legitimacy of the regime, as expressed by one of the most enduring slogans that emerged, "Fundamentalists, reformists, the game is over". | The main slogan of the current protests is "Bread. Work. Freedom". They are sporadic, self-organised, fragmented…

stuart_m(2019-02-01). 45 Fridays on, Gaza is still resisting.greenleft.org.au The 45th Friday of the Great March of Return took place on February 1. Each Friday since March 30 last year, Gazans have defied Israeli snipers — who have shot unarmed protesters, journalists and medics — to demand their right to return to their now Israeli-occupied lands. | The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories ( OCHA-OPT) said there have been more than 26,000 Palestinian injuries since the Great March began. Israeli injuries stand at 23. | Whereas Israeli injuries can be tr…

stuart_m(2019-02-01). Australian activists say: to help Venezuela, lift sanctions and end intervention.greenleft.org.au Australian solidarity activists are calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government to demand the United States lift its sanctions on Venezuela and rule out any military intervention in the South American country. | Federico Fuentes, co-author of Latin America's Turbulent Transitions and co-convenor of the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network, said: "It is well known that Venezuela is passing through the worst economic crisis in its history. | "While focus has been placed on falling international oil prices and economic mismanagement by the Nicolas Maduro government, little attention has been paid to…

Fight Back(2019-01-31). Minneapolis: Fundraising event nets more than $3000 for Fight Back!fightbacknews.orgMinneapolis, MN — More than 75 trade unionists, anti-police-terror, immigrant rights, anti-war and student activists came together January 26 for a successful house party that netted more than $3000 for Fight Back!. | One of the event organizers, Matt Boynton stated, "The revolutionary press is of major importance in the struggle against capitalism in this country and around the globe. This fundraiser for Fight Back! was an incredible success." | Leader of trade unions and other people's organizations offered short toasts where they explained the importance of Fight Back! to their work. | Fight Back! editor…

STAFF(2019-01-31). Campaign Cash Paid Trump Foe's Legal Bills After #MeToo Fall.truthdig.comNEW YORK—Former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman used nearly $340,000 in political campaign funds to pay the law firm that represented him during an investigation of allegations that he physically abused several women, according to campaign finance reports reviewed by The Associated Press. | The practice is legal, but reform activists say Schneiderman and other politicians are exploiting lax campaign finance rules. | "By and large, if you are an elected official, you can use your campaign contributions as a Get Out of Jail Free card," said Blair Horner, the executive director of the New York Publ…

Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski(2019-01-31). The Dilemma of Israel's Joint List Party: Participate or Boycott?therealnews.com Dov Hanin was a member of the Israeli Knesset for 12 years. Upon his retirement from the Joint List party, he explains how this party formed and what lies in its future. The shrinking democratic space in the Israeli political system forces non-Zionist citizens to face a tough decision

Human Rights Watch(2019-01-31). EU Leaders Drag Their Feet on Hungary Sanctions.hrw.org In September, it seemed as if the European Union had finally woken up to the threat that Hungary's Fidesz government poses to the rights of Hungarian citizens, democratic institutions, and shared values of the EU, when the European Parliament voted to launch political sanctions. | | But since then the EU Council, made up of member state governments, has dragged its feet even as the situation in Hungary worsens. | In a debate on Hungary yesterday, members of the European Parliament called out the lack of progress by the Council on the political sanctions process under ar…

Shared by Merula Furtado(2019-01-31). Republicans Are Using Shameless Tactics to Split Democrats Over BDS.truthout.orgWith the Senate's imminent passage of the grandiosely titled Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019, it's now official: Israel/Palestine will be a major political wedge issue in the 116th Congress and the 2020 election season. And it's not going to be pretty. | This new Senate bill is essentially a package of previous bills that appears on the surface to be boilerplate Middle East legislation. But with the addition of a provision by Sen. Marco Rubio that seeks to stifle support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, this legislation is nothing short of…

Middle East Monitor(2019-01-31). US Interrogators Are Working in UAE Prisons in Yemen.theantimedia.com (MEMO) — US interrogators are present in UAE prisons in Yemen, the Daily Beast has revealed today, providing shocking evidence that the American military is a witness to the torture of Yemenis. In a series of interviews, two former detainees have testified to being interrogated by men with American accents, who looked on as they were beaten and electrocuted. …

Johnny Dwyer(2019-01-31). U.S. Court Finds Syria Responsible for Killing American Journalist Marie Colvin.theintercept.com A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has ordered the Syrian government to pay $302 million in damages for the murders of journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik in a 2012 artillery strike. The decision, issued on Wednesday, marks the first time in the seven-year conflict that a court has declared Syrian forces loyal to the government of President Bashar al-Assad responsible for deliberately attacking civilians. | "A targeted murder of an American citizen, whose courageous work was not only important, but vital to our understanding of warzones and of wars generally, is outrageous, and therefore a punitive damages…

Paul Kawika Martin(2019-01-30). Legislation Re-Introduced to End U.S. Role in Yemen War.peaceaction.orgWashington, D.C. — January 30, 2019 — In response to Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) re-introducing bipartisan, privileged resolutions to force a vote on whether or not to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen, Paul Kawika Martin the Senior […]

Democracy Now!(2019-01-30). Allan Nairn: Trump's Venezuela Envoy Elliott Abrams Is a War Criminal Who Has Abetted Genocide.democracynow.org In an ongoing effort to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Mike Pence met with members of the Venezuelan opposition at the White House Tuesday alongside Trump's new special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams. Elliott Abrams is a right-wing hawk who was convicted in 1991 for lying to Congress during the Iran-Contra scandal, but he was later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. Abrams defended Guatemalan dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt as he oversaw a campaign of mass murder and torture of indigenous people in Guatemala in the 1980s. Ríos Montt was later convicted of genocide. Abrams w…

USAID ceases assistance in West Bank and Gaza: US official
aljazeera | aljazeera.com | 2019-02-01
Decision comes after Washington cut hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to Palestinians last year.
aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/usaid-ceases-assistance-west-bank-gaza-official-190201105531606.html

From Global Poverty to Exclusion and Despair: Reversing the Tide of War and Globalization
Prof Michel Chossudovsky | globalresearch.ca | 2019-02-01
Global warfare sustains the neoliberal agenda. America's military agenda serves the interests of Wall Street, the Military Industrial Complex, Big Oil, the Biotech conglomerates, Big Pharma, The Global Narcotics Economy and the Media and Information Giants. | The post From Global Poverty to Exclusion and Despair: Reversing the Tide of War and Globalization appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/from-global-poverty-to-exclusion-and-despair-reversing-the-tide-of-war-and-globalization/5611619

Trump and the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) Crowd Embrace the Neocon Plan for Venezuela
Kurt Nimmo | globalresearch.ca | 2019-02-01
Is it fair to call MAGA neocon lite, or possibly MAGAcons? | The fact so few of these establishment labeled "white nationalists" had nothing to say about Trump's illegal bombing of Syria, or the death toll from his war against ISIS, … | The post Trump and the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) Crowd Embrace the Neocon Plan for Venezuela appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/trump-maga-crowd-embrace-neocon-plan-venezuela/5667148

Sanctions of Mass Destruction: America's War on Venezuela
Garikai Chengu | counterpunch.org | 2019-02-01
American economic sanctions have been the worst crime against humanity since World War Two. America's economic sanctions have killed more innocent people than all of the nuclear, biological and chemical weapons ever used in the history of mankind. The fact that for America the issue in Venezuela is oil, not democracy, will surprise only those…
counterpunch.org/2019/02/01/sanctions-of-mass-destruction-americas-war-on-venezuela/

US court orders Syria to pay $302m over Marie Colvin's death
aljazeera | aljazeera.com | 2019-02-01
Judge rules Syrian government liable for death of American foreign correspondent Colvin in 2012.
aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/court-orders-syria-pay-302m-marie-colvin-death-190201060144752.html

Pakistan Successfully Test-Fires Short-Range Missile
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-02-01
The Pakistani army test-fired a short-range missile – which reportedly has a strike range of about 70 kilometers – as part of an Army Strategic Forces Command training exercise. | RELATED: | Syrian Anti-Aircraft Defense Repels Israeli Missiles | "The 2nd phase of this exercise was aimed at testing the extreme inflight maneuverability, including the end flight maneuverability; capable of defeating, by assured penetration, any currently available BMD system in our neighborhood or any oth…
telesurenglish.net/news/Pakistan-Successfully-Test-Fires-Short-Range-Missile-20190201-0005.html

Web Activists Keep Hope for Net Neutrality Alive as Open Internet Defenders Take the FCC to Court
Fight for the Future | globalresearch.ca | 2019-02-01
Tomorrow, net neutrality will get it's day in court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear oral arguments in the legal challenge to Ajit Pai's reckless and resoundingly unpopular repeal of open Internet … | The post Web Activists Keep Hope for Net Neutrality Alive as Open Internet Defenders Take the FCC to Court appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/web-activists-keep-hope-for-net-neutrality-alive-as-open-internet-defenders-take-the-fcc-to-court/5667196

How Do We Counteract Othering in America Today?
The Progressive Magazine | progressive.org | 2019-02-01
We turned to some leading thinkers and social justice activists to ask how we must reckon with prejudice.
progressive.org/magazine/how-counteract-othering/

Democrats Killed the Green New Deal
Rob Urie | counterpunch.org | 2019-02-01
Environmental activists received a reality check when newly empowered Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives pushed aside demands for an environmental economic transition program— a Green New Deal, in favor of reviving a toothless committee to 'study' the problem. A transition program is needed to mitigate the economic dislocations that will result from resolving the multiple environmental crises currently underway.
counterpunch.org/2019/02/01/democrats-killed-the-green-new-deal/

Life in Besieged Venezuela
Jessica Dos Santos | zcomm.org | 2019-02-01
A young author presents intimate snapshots of ordinary life as it is lived by millions of Venezuelans during a grueling crisis fueled by deadly US sanctions and coup efforts…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/life-in-besieged-venezuela/

New Oil Sanctions on Venezuela: "Would Destroy What's Left of its Economy"
Mark Weisbrot | zcomm.org | 2019-02-01
National Security Advisor John Bolton announced that the US will freeze Venezuelan assets and block oil payments for Venezuelan oil imports to the US. This would not only be illegal, but would also be yet another crippling blow to the country…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/new-oil-sanctions-on-venezuela-would-destroy-whats-left-of-its-economy/

Europe Implements Iran Payment Mechanism to Bypass US Sanctions
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-02-01
Tuesday Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi welcomed the 'Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges' (INSTEX), a payment mechanism designed by Germany, France and the United Kingdom to maintain trade with Iran and avoid U.S. sanctions on the Persian nation, but urged that it be implemented "in its whole." | RELATED: | 3 Injured in Iran Police Station Attack | "We hop…
telesurenglish.net/news/Europe-Implements-Iran-Payment-Mechanism-to-Bypass-US-Sanctions-20190201-0002.html

Elliott Abrams: A Human Rights Horror Show in Three Acts
Brett Wilkins | counterpunch.org | 2019-02-01
Last Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Elliott Abrams would once again be returning to government, this time as President Donald Trump's special envoy to help "fully restore democracy and prosperity" to Venezuela. Abrams, 71, is best known for abetting dictators and genocide in Latin America and for his role in the Iran-Contra scandal during…
counterpunch.org/2019/02/01/elliott-abrams-a-human-rights-horror-show-in-three-acts/

The CIA's Masterful Use of Fake News
STAFF | truthdig.com | 2019-02-01
In early 1954, writing in the magazine Encounter, F.R. Allemann slammed the ex-prime minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, for alleged abuses. In a " Letter from Teheran" titled "Persia: Land of Unrealities," Allemann referred to Mosaddegh's aborted term as a "pseudo-revolutionary pseudo-dictatorship" and claimed Mosaddegh could only cram laws through Iran's Parliament by summoning thugs to street protests–that is, through demagoguery. | Allemann depicted Mosaddegh's rallies as "terror campaign[s] of the political-religious secret societies" w…
truthdig.com/articles/the-cias-masterful-use-of-fake-news/

France, Germany, UK Launch a New 'Non-Dollar' Mechanism to Trade with Iran, but Will it Work?
Patrick Henningsen | globalresearch.ca | 2019-02-01
Money talks, and no one knows this better than the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It's how the Trump Administration communicates with its enemies, as well as with its allies — through the application powerful long-range financial instruments. But … | The post France, Germany, UK Launch a New 'Non-Dollar' Mechanism to Trade with Iran, but Will it Work? appeared first on Global Research.
globalresearch.ca/france-germany-uk-launch-a-new-non-dollar-mechanism-to-trade-with-iran-but-will-it-work/5667156

Facebook deletes 783 'inauthentic' pages, accounts tied to Iran
aljazeera | aljazeera.com | 2019-02-01
Social media company says removed accounts were part of an Iranian campaign targeting people in more than 20 countries.
aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/facebook-deletes-783-inauthentic-pages-accounts-tied-iran-190131202739456.html

Five new books for ecosocialists
stuart_m | greenleft.org.au | 2019-02-01
Climate and Capitalism editor Ian Angus takes a look at five new books for an ecosocialists' bookshelf. Inclusion does not necessarily imply endorsement or agreement with a book's contents. | *** | Dust Bowls Of Empire: Imperialism, Environmental Politics, & the Injustice of 'Green' Capitalism | By Hannah Holleman | Yale University Press, 2018 | A clear and insightful analysis of the role of capitalism and colonialism in causing the US Dust Bowl of the 1930s and destroying farmland ar…
greenleft.org.au/content/five-new-books-ecosocialists-1

45 Fridays on, Gaza is still resisting
stuart_m | greenleft.org.au | 2019-02-01
The 45th Friday of the Great March of Return took place on February 1. Each Friday since March 30 last year, Gazans have defied Israeli snipers — who have shot unarmed protesters, journalists and medics — to demand their right to return to their now Israeli-occupied lands. | The United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories ( OCHA-OPT) said there have been more than 26,000 Palestinian injuries since the Great March began. Israeli injuries stand at 23. | Whereas Israeli injuries can be tr…
greenleft.org.au/content/45-fridays-gaza-still-resisting

Australian activists say: to help Venezuela, lift sanctions and end intervention
stuart_m | greenleft.org.au | 2019-02-01
Australian solidarity activists are calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government to demand the United States lift its sanctions on Venezuela and rule out any military intervention in the South American country. | Federico Fuentes, co-author of Latin America's Turbulent Transitions and co-convenor of the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network, said: "It is well known that Venezuela is passing through the worst economic crisis in its history. | "While focus has been placed on falling international oil prices and economic mismanagement by the Nicolas Maduro government, little attention has been paid to…
greenleft.org.au/content/australian-activists-say-help-venezuela-lift-sanctions-and-end-intervention

Iranian workers' protests confront a regime in crisis
stuart_m | greenleft.org.au | 2019-02-01
Protests are continuing throughout Iran by teachers, nurses, labourers, retirees, oil industry workers, bazaar traders and shopkeepers, truck drivers, farmers, the unemployed, students, and other sectors, writes Minna Langeberg. | The current wave of protests continue those from December, which were brutally suppressed by the regime. They signal the deep crisis of legitimacy of the regime, as expressed by one of the most enduring slogans that emerged, "Fundamentalists, reformists, the game is over". | The main slogan of the current protests is "Bread. Work. Freedom". They are sporadic, self-organised, fragmented…
greenleft.org.au/content/iranian-workers-protests-confront-regime-crisis

Trump praises US intelligence a day after telling them to 'go back to school' over Iran nukes
RT | rt.com | 2019-02-01
US President Donald Trump has reversed course on his spymasters' threat assessment, insisting his initial negative reaction — in which he dismissed their reports as "wrong" and "naàØve" — was based on (what else?) fake news. | …
rt.com/usa/450287-trump-reverses-intel-assessment/

Over 60 Human Rights Groups Back Call to Boycott Eurovision in Israel
Middle East Monitor | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-31
"The Israeli regime of military occupation, colonialism and apartheid is blatantly using Eurovision as part of its official strategy 'Brand Israel', which tries to show 'the most beautiful face of Israel' to whiten and divert attention from its war crimes against the Palestinians." | The post Over 60 Human Rights Groups Back Call to Boycott Eurovision in Israel appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/60-human-rights-groups-back-call-boycott-eurovision-israel/254519/

As Malaysia and Ireland Find Out, You Stand Up for Palestinian Rights at Your Peril
Miko Peled | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-31
It takes an enormous effort for any country to oppose Israel, but particularly a small country that has to rely on bigger powers. It is even harder to impose effective pragmatic measures against Israel, as in the case of Ireland and Malaysia. | The post As Malaysia and Ireland Find Out, You Stand Up for Palestinian Rights at Your Peril appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/as-malaysia-and-ireland-find-out-you-stand-up-for-palestinian-rights-at-your-peril/254529/

How Senators James Risch and Eliot Engel Are Preparing a New US War Against Syria
Thierry Meyssan | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-31
Senators James Risch and Eliot Engel agree on nothing apart from their stubborn support for the Pentagon and Israel, and their hatred of Syria. | The post How Senators James Risch and Eliot Engel Are Preparing a New US War Against Syria appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/senators-james-risch-and-eliot-engel-are-preparing-a-new-us-war-against-syria/254537/

Minneapolis: Fundraising event nets more than $3000 for Fight Back!
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2019-01-31
Minneapolis, MN — More than 75 trade unionists, anti-police-terror, immigrant rights, anti-war and student activists came together January 26 for a successful house party that netted more than $3000 for Fight Back!. | One of the event organizers, Matt Boynton stated, "The revolutionary press is of major importance in the struggle against capitalism in this country and around the globe. This fundraiser for Fight Back! was an incredible success." | Leader of trade unions and other people's organizations offered short toasts where they explained the importance of Fight Back! to their work. | Fight Back! editor…www.fightbacknews.org/2019/1/31/minneapo…

EU Launches INSTEX To Facilitate Trade, Bypass US Sanctions on Iran
ZeroHedge | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-31
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo previously warned of "swift punishment" for countries doing business with Iran, thus INSTEX is seen as a first small step toward greater European economic independence. | The post EU Launches INSTEX To Facilitate Trade, Bypass US Sanctions on Iran appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/europe-launches-instex-to-facilitate-trade-bypass-us-sanctions-on-iran/254524/

US Sanctions on Venezuela Harm Human Rights of Innocent People, UN Expert Warns
OUHCFHR | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-01-31
UN Special Rapporteur for sanctions Idriss Jazairy says that the United States' attempt to topple the Venezuelan government with an oil embargo is illegal and will have grave humanitarian consequences.
venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/14283

Netanyahu's Brand of Tolerance for Anti-Semitism Goes Back 120 Years
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2019-01-31
The Israeli prime minister's ease with neo-Nazism and revisionist Holocaust history are not as surprising as they might seem, writes Daniel Lazare. By Daniel Lazare Special to Consortium News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a soft spot for rightwing… Read more ?…
consortiumnews.com/2019/01/31/netanyahus-brand-of-tolerance-for-anti-semitism-goes-back-120-years/

Campaign Cash Paid Trump Foe's Legal Bills After #MeToo Fall
STAFF | truthdig.com | 2019-01-31
NEW YORK–Former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman used nearly $340,000 in political campaign funds to pay the law firm that represented him during an investigation of allegations that he physically abused several women, according to campaign finance reports reviewed by The Associated Press. | The practice is legal, but reform activists say Schneiderman and other politicians are exploiting lax campaign finance rules. | "By and large, if you are an elected official, you can use your campaign contributions as a Get Out of Jail Free card," said Blair Horner, the executive director of the New York Publ…
truthdig.com/articles/campaign-cash-paid-trump-foes-legal-bills-after-metoo-fall/

Russia denounces U.S. cynicism sanctioning Venezuelan PDVSA
Eds. | mronline.org | 2019-01-31
Russia denounced Tuesday the U.S. cynicism by announcing sanctions against the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA and excluding from that sanction U.S. companies operating in the South American nation. | Source…
mronline.org/2019/01/31/russia-denounces-u-s-cynicism-sanctioning-venezuelan-pdvsa/

Everyday Life in Besieged Venezuela: A Conversation with Jessica Dos Santos
Cira Pascual Marquina — Venezuelanalysis | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-01-31
A young author presents intimate snapshots of ordinary life as it is lived by millions of Venezuelans during a grueling crisis fueled by deadly US sanctions and coup efforts.
venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/14286

Venezuela: US Rejects Calls for Dialogue Ahead of Dueling Marches
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-01-31
Draconian US sanctions and calls for dialogue set the stage for pro- and anti-government marches this weekend.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14282

Republicans Are Using Shameless Tactics to Split Democrats Over BDS
Shared by Merula Furtado | truthout.org | 2019-01-31
With the Senate's imminent passage of the grandiosely titled Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019, it's now official: Israel/Palestine will be a major political wedge issue in the 116th Congress and the 2020 election season. And it's not going to be pretty. | This new Senate bill is essentially a package of previous bills that appears on the surface to be boilerplate Middle East legislation. But with the addition of a provision by Sen. Marco Rubio that seeks to stifle support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, this legislation is nothing short of…
truthout.org/articles/republicans-are-using-shameless-tactics-to-split-democrats-over-bds/

Primaries Matter: How a Long-Shot Challenge Shifted the Debate on the War in Yemen
Ryan Grim | theintercept.com | 2019-01-31
Sarah Smith's challenge to Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., focused on what she cast as his hawkish foreign policy, pushing him to take a clearer stance on Yemen. | The post Primaries Matter: How a Long-Shot Challenge Shifted the Debate on the War in Yemen appeared first on The Intercept.
theintercept.com/2019/01/30/adam-smith-yemen-war/

EU Leaders Drag Their Feet on Hungary Sanctions
Human Rights Watch | hrw.org | 2019-01-31
In September, it seemed as if the European Union had finally woken up to the threat that Hungary's Fidesz government poses to the rights of Hungarian citizens, democratic institutions, and shared values of the EU, when the European Parliament voted to launch political sanctions. | | But since then the EU Council, made up of member state governments, has dragged its feet even as the situation in Hungary worsens. | In a debate on Hungary yesterday, members of the European Parliament called out the lack of progress by the Council on the political sanctions process under ar…
hrw.org/news/2019/01/31/eu-leaders-drag-their-feet-hungary-sanctions

US Interrogators Are Working in UAE Prisons in Yemen
Middle East Monitor | theantimedia.com | 2019-01-31
(MEMO) — US interrogators are present in UAE prisons in Yemen, the Daily Beast has revealed today, providing shocking evidence that the American military is a witness to the torture of Yemenis. In a series of interviews, two former detainees have testified to being interrogated by men with American accents, who looked on as they were beaten and electrocuted. …

The Dilemma of Israel's Joint List Party: Participate or Boycott?
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-01-31
Dov Hanin was a member of the Israeli Knesset for 12 years. Upon his retirement from the Joint List party, he explains how this party formed and what lies in its future. The shrinking democratic space in the Israeli political system forces non-Zionist citizens to face a tough decision | The post The Dilemma of Israel's Joint List Party: Participate or Boycott? appeared first on The Real News Network.
therealnews.com/stories/the-dilemma-of-israels-joint-list-party-participate-or-boycott

'Trump spars with US intel because he does not trust Deep State' — former CIA analyst to RT
RT | rt.com | 2019-01-31
President Donald Trump's bickering with US intelligence chiefs over Iran is at least in part due to his aversion to career government officials, the 'deep state' that outlived many presidents, CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou said. | …
rt.com/usa/450196-trump-trust-intelligence-iran/

U.S. Court Finds Syria Responsible for Killing American Journalist Marie Colvin
Johnny Dwyer | theintercept.com | 2019-01-31
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has ordered the Syrian government to pay $302 million in damages for the murders of journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik in a 2012 artillery strike. The decision, issued on Wednesday, marks the first time in the seven-year conflict that a court has declared Syrian forces loyal to the government of President Bashar al-Assad responsible for deliberately attacking civilians. | "A targeted murder of an American citizen, whose courageous work was not only important, but vital to our understanding of warzones and of wars generally, is outrageous, and therefore a punitive damages…
theintercept.com/2019/01/31/marie-colvin-death-syria/

Israel's New Commander in Chief: "We'll Create a Deadlier Army!"
Shared by Jocelyn Dombroski | therealnews.com | 2019-01-31
Eyal Weizman studied the philosophy that guides Aviv Kochavi, the officer who was just appointed commander of the Israeli military. It is a philosophy that objectifies Palestinians and ignores the human suffering caused by new Israeli technologies and tactics of repression | The post Israel's New Commander in Chief: "We'll Create a Deadlier Army!" appeared first on The Real News Network.
therealnews.com/stories/israels-new-commander-in-chief-well-create-a-deadlier-army

Legislation Re-Introduced to End U.S. Role in Yemen War
Paul Kawika Martin | peaceaction.org | 2019-01-30
Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2019 — In response to Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) re-introducing bipartisan, privileged resolutions to force a vote on whether or not to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen, Paul Kawika Martin the Senior […] | The post Legislation Re-Introduced to End U.S. Role in Yemen War appeared first on Peace Action.
peaceaction.org/2019/01/30/legislation-re-introduced-to-end-u-s-role-in-yemen-war/

Q&A: Congress Takes a Historic Step to End the War on Yemen
James Carden | thenation.com | 2019-01-30
Q&A: Congress Takes a Historic Step to End the War on Yemen…
thenation.com/article/ro-hanna-war-powers-resolution-yemen/

A War for Oil? Bolton Pushes Privatization of Venezuela's Oil as U.S. Ratchets Up Pressure on Maduro
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-01-30
As the Trump administration continues its attempt to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. has imposed a de facto embargo on oil from Venezuela's state-run oil company. The new sanctions include exemptions for several U.S. firms, including Chevron and Halliburton, to allow them to continue working in Venezuela. We speak with prize-winning investigative journalist Allan Nairn about the push to privatize Venezuela's oil.www.democracynow.org/2019/1/30/a_war_for…

Allan Nairn: Trump's Venezuela Envoy Elliott Abrams Is a War Criminal Who Has Abetted Genocide
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-01-30
In an ongoing effort to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Vice President Mike Pence met with members of the Venezuelan opposition at the White House Tuesday alongside Trump's new special envoy to Venezuela, Elliott Abrams. Elliott Abrams is a right-wing hawk who was convicted in 1991 for lying to Congress during the Iran-Contra scandal, but he was later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. Abrams defended Guatemalan dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt as he oversaw a campaign of mass murder and torture of indigenous people in Guatemala in the 1980s. Ríos Montt was later convicted of genocide. Abrams w…www.democracynow.org/2019/1/30/allan_nai…